Hours after the States elected one of his most vocal critics as Health Minister, he was forced to withdraw plans to raid the Overseas Aid budget in the face of an embarrassing defeat. The States elected Senator Ben Shenton to the post of Health Minister, beating Senator Walker’s nominee, Social Security Minister Paul Routier, by 27 votes to 22. The election was triggered by the decision of the States to sack Senator Stuart Syvret last week. And just a few hours after Senator Shenton won the post, Senator Walker was forced to withdraw his proposal to take £3.5m out of the Overseas Aid Commission’s budget to pay for free nursery care for all three- and four-year-olds. The debate on nursery funding is expected today, although the States are adjourning at 1 pm to enable Members to attend former Constable Philip Ozouf’s funeral. Faced with more than two-thirds of the House voting against him, Senator Walker withdrew his Business Plan amendment at the end of yesterday’s session to thunderous applause in the States. The withdrawal is the second recent ministerial U-turn – plans to cut the Christmas bonus to pay for the winter fuel payment were pulled after opposition from pensioner groups.
Jersey Evening Post
